Things you need to know about women's heart rate!

Have you ever wondered how fast your heart beats when you're just standing still? Sometimes it feels like it's beating really fast, and other times it feels really slow. It's especially important for women to know their heart rate, because our heart rate can be a little different than a man's.

What is the normal heart rate for a woman?

The average adult woman's heart rate is between 78 and 82 beats per minute. But what we consider the "normal range" is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. This value can vary from person to person. Many things affect this, including your hormones, the exercise you do, and your lifestyle .

In general, women have slightly higher heart rates than men. The average heart rate for an adult male is between 70 and 72 beats per minute.

Why are the heart rates of men and women different?

There's a very simple reason. Typically, during puberty , the heart of a boy becomes 15% to 30% larger than the heart of a girl. This increase in heart size occurs as the body grows.

Now think about it, when your heart beats once, that contraction is what pumps blood throughout your body. Women's hearts are generally a little smaller than men's hearts, so to pump the same amount of blood throughout your body, your heart has to beat a little more often. That's why our heart rate is a little higher. See?

What heart rate is dangerous for a woman?

If your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats per minute, even when you're not exercising, it could be a serious condition . You should see a doctor right away, especially if you're also experiencing symptoms like dizziness and lightheadedness .

Similarly, a heart rate that drops below 60 beats per minute can sometimes be a problem. Especially if you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or extremely tired. However, it is normal for active people, such as athletes, to have a heart rate in the 40s and 50s per minute. There is nothing to worry about.

How do hormones affect heart rate?

Research has found that before menopause , that is, before menstruation stops completely, women have better heart function than men of the same age. However, after menopause, this difference is not as pronounced. Researchers believe this may be related to the hormone estrogen and heart health.

How do perimenopause and menopause affect you?

Before going through perimenopause and menopause, women have better outcomes from some heart conditions (compared to men of the same age). For example:

• Aortic stenosis : This is a narrowing of the valve of the main artery of the heart.
• Congestive heart failure : Heart failure.
• High blood pressure (Hypertension) .
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy .

However, the outcomes of these conditions are largely similar for postmenopausal women and men of the same age.

Does hormone replacement therapy (HRT) improve heart health?

Researchers have not yet found that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective treatment for improving heart function in postmenopausal women. It also does not appear to reduce the risk of cardiovascular emergencies. However, HRT may help control symptoms of menopause, such as palpitations, hot flashes, or night sweats .

Does your monthly menstrual cycle affect your heart rate?

Yes, absolutely. Your hormone levels change throughout your monthly menstrual cycle. Typically, your heart rate increases slightly during ovulation and the week after (luteal phase). Your heart rate decreases slightly during the days leading up to your period and the week after (follicular phase). This is normal.

What happens to heart rate during pregnancy?

The average heart rate of pregnant women is higher than that of non-pregnant women. When you are pregnant, your heart has to work harder to pump blood to your uterus . The amount of blood your heart pumps increases by 30% to 50%. Therefore, your average heart rate increases to about 90 beats per minute during pregnancy. Also, when you exercise during pregnancy, your heart rate increases more than normal.

It is common to have minor heart arrhythmias during pregnancy. For example, about one in two pregnant women will experience a condition called premature atrial contractions . These arrhythmias rarely cause complications and often resolve without treatment. However, more serious arrhythmias, such as diastolic heart murmurs, may require treatment.

What are the most common heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) that affect women?

Some heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) and conditions that affect heart rate are more common in women. Some of them are:

• Atrial tachycardia : An irregular, rapid heartbeat in the upper chambers of the heart (atria).
• Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) : Recurrent occurrence of a very fast heartbeat.
• Long QT syndrome (LQTS) : A condition in which an electrical signal takes longer than normal to be sent through the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart and then recharged.
• Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) : A condition that causes dizziness and a rapid heartbeat when you stand up from a lying position.
• Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) arrest : This is a type of heart attack. What happens here is that even though there is a normal electrical signal from the heart, the heart is not beating, so there is no pulse.
• Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) : A heart rhythm disorder in which the ventricles of the heart skip a beat instead of pumping properly.
• Sick sinus syndrome : A heart rhythm disorder that occurs when the sinoatrial (SA) node, which sends the electrical signal to start each heartbeat, does not function properly.

What heart rhythm problems affect women less?

Also, women are less likely to develop certain heart rhythm disorders and conditions that affect heart rate. Examples:

• Atrial fibrillation (Afib) : An irregular heart rhythm that begins in the upper chambers of the heart (atria). (More on this below)
• Fascicular ventricular tachycardia (FVT) : A condition in which the heart beats rapidly, involving the bundles of fibers (fascicles) that carry electrical signals in the heart.
• Sudden cardiac death : A medical emergency caused by the sudden loss of heart function.
• Ventricular fibrillation : An irregular heart rhythm that affects the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.
• Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome : A condition that occurs when there is an extra, irregular pathway in the heart's electrical signal system. This can cause the heart to beat abnormally fast.

Does atrial fibrillation (Afib) affect men and women differently?

Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is an irregular heartbeat condition that occurs more often in men than in women. However, when women develop the condition, they may experience different symptoms. For example:

• Frequent anxiety
• Heart palpitations

Additionally, women are more likely to have other conditions along with Afib. These include:

• Heart failure with typical ejection fraction .
• High blood pressure (Hypertension) .
• Valve disease .

How are heart rhythm disorders (Arrhythmias) diagnosed?

If you suspect you have a heart rhythm disorder, you may be referred to an electrophysiologist , a cardiologist who specializes in heart rhythm disorders.

Your doctor may use several tests and devices to diagnose a heart rhythm disorder. Some of them include:

• Ambulatory monitor : These are devices that are worn on the body. They record your heart rate over a period of days or weeks. This can help detect unexpected irregular heart rhythms. Think about it, sometimes you feel fine at the doctor's office, but you feel your heart beating at home. This is very useful in times like these.
• Exercise stress test : A test that measures how your heart responds when you increase your activity. Typically, you are asked to walk on a treadmill or ride an exercise bike while connected to a machine that records your heart's electrical activity.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) : A doctor may order an EKG to record the electrical activity of your heart. In this, several small, sticky patches (electrodes) are placed on your chest. The EKG machine displays your heart's electrical signals as a graph.
• Electrophysiology (EP) study : If your doctor needs more information after an EKG or stress test, you may need to have an EP study. In this, small, hollow tubes (catheters) are inserted through a blood vessel in your groin. Using these catheters, doctors can check the function of your heart.
• Tilt table test : This test shows how different body positions affect your heart rate, blood pressure, and heart rhythm. You lie on a motorized tilt table and are connected to an EKG machine. As the table moves through different positions, the EKG records the electrical activity of your heart.

How are heart rhythm disorders treated?

Typically, treatment for a heart rhythm disorder may include:

• Medications : Your doctor may prescribe medications to control your heart rhythm or reduce your risk of blood clots and stroke . Because women have a longer QT interval than men, some medications that prolong the QT interval (e.g., sotalol, dofetilide, amiodarone ) may not always be appropriate.
• Lifestyle changes : Some disorders can be reduced by lifestyle changes, such as limiting caffeine or alcohol . Quitting smoking can also help manage disorders.
• Electrical cardioversion : While you are asleep, an electrical shock is sent to your chest wall. This can restore a normal heart rhythm. This can be useful for patients who cannot achieve a normal heart rate with medication alone. It is also used as a life-saving procedure for patients with ventricular arrhythmias that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
• Catheter ablation : A doctor inserts a catheter into your heart and sends hot or cold energy through it. This creates small scars in the heart tissue that are causing the irregularity, thereby blocking the irregular electrical impulses.
• Electrical devices : You may benefit from a small device that is implanted under your skin. These devices can detect or treat irregular heart rhythms. Some people have pacemakers . These send small electrical impulses that control the heart rate. Others benefit from implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) . These detect irregular heart rhythms and send energy to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat.
• Surgery : If no other treatment can control your heart rate, your doctor may recommend surgery. The most common option is a maze procedure . In this procedure, a cardiac surgeon creates a maze of incisions in your heart tissue to block the irregular electrical signals.

So, what is the message we want to take home from this story?

If you suddenly feel your heart beating faster when you're just relaxing after work, you might be a little scared, right? Or maybe you've noticed that one of your male friends' resting heart rates is always lower than yours.

Remember, it's normal for women to have a slightly higher heart rate than men. This seems to be influenced by hormones.

However, if your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats per minute , you should definitely see a doctor. Also, if your heart rate is consistently below 60 beats per minute, especially if you are not very active in sports or exercise, tell your doctor about it. Taking care of your heart is very important!

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